Module 1: Value Chain Concepts and Principles
Learning outcomes
AMC Module 1 is designed to provide participants with key principles and frameworks around value chains. At the completion of this module, participants are expected to be able to:
- Develop a good understanding of value chain frameworks and concepts
- Build capacity in framing real-world value chains in the context of the broader food and fibre systems
- Design and conduct simple value chain studies
- Reflect and critique on value chain information and perspectives
- Effectively communicate results and findings
Throughout the week, AMC participants will be provided with activities and challenges to test new tools and principles. The module will be conducted over five days, with one day allocated for a field visit. Participants may be expected to work outside of their usual hours, particularly during the field day. The field day is designed to expose participants to a ‘rapid appraisal value chain analysis’ exercise.
Module 1 Program and resources
Open allClose all- AMC Day 1 Master slides
- Value chain selection activity How do you choose a chain to analyse? Participants were tasked to develop selection criteria for value chains, as well as evaluate them.
- Chain mapping and node identification activity: AMC participants were tasked to map different chains, then identify the different nodes or actors that operate within the individual functions in a chain.
- AMC Day 2 Master slides
- Checklist, Active Farmer Organizations by Tiago Wandschneider
- Checklist, Modern Retailer by Tiago Wandschneider
- Phil Currey’s presentation on Rapid Market Appraisal (YouTube video)
- Handout for Rapid Market Appraisal
- Case studies featuring rapid market appraisals: Vegetable Report and Mango Report
- CALCOA case study by Oleg Nicetic
- AMC Day 3 Master slides
- Research questions exercise: Participants were given a client, tasked to define a value chain research problem, and develop research questions for their respective clients.
Participants were asked to walk the chain of five commodities – chicharon (pork rind), lechon (roast pork), carabao dairy, cacao and danggit (dried fish). They presented the results of their studies the next day.
Value chain case studies
Mini-project ideas: We went through a series of idea development activities, followed by pitching. For the first round, 10 ideas were developed and pitched. Round 2 narrowed that down to five, refined and re-pitched. These five form the mini-projects that AMC participants will be pursuing for the rest of the Master Class.
Other resources
- COMING SOON – Business model canvass: A commercialisation perspective of value, market segments, capacity and resourcing, often used as a way to consider new products, services and markets of a business. How would you use this for value chain analysis?